98 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
March 
will not waste away; but the animals can obtain what¬ 
ever the}*- desire by licking it as their appetites prompt 
them. We recommend the article as the cheapest and 
best of the kind for the purpose mentioned. 
Mr. Ayrault’s Fat Oxen.— These oxen, which 
were noticed in our January number, we understand 
were slaughtered about the 1st of February. Mr. 
Mahoney, of this city, has furnished us with the fol¬ 
lowing memorandum of their weight, which he received 
from Mr. B. Lawrence, of the Centre Market, New- 
York, who slaughtered the cattle, and sold their beef: 
Live weight of the two, 5,522 lbs.; dressed weight-— 
quarters 3,650, tallow, 512, hide 214 = 4,376 lbs. 
They sold, alive, for $550. 
Baldwin’s Churn.— This article was invented by 
E. Baldwin, of Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. The 
advatages claimed for it are—its simplicity and cheap¬ 
ness, and the small power with which it may be opera¬ 
ted. It does not differ materially from the le cradle- 
churn,” which has been used in some sections for many 
years. 
Farmer’s Clubs.-—- We are pleased to learn that 
these associations are increasing in the country, and 
that they are highly approved for their beneficial re¬ 
sults. Mr. Guy Bigelow, of Colchester, Conn., writes 
us that an 11 Agricultural Association,” was formed in 
that neighborhood in 1842. It was made a rule that 
not less than six, nor more than twelve men, with their 
wives, should u meet monthly at the residence of the 
members, in alphabetical order, and spend the after¬ 
noon and evening.” Mr. B. says—“ these meetings 
are considered interesting and beneficial. Each mem¬ 
ber pays into the treasury $1 annually, and has a copy 
of the Cultivator.” 
Manufacture of Cheese.— Mr. L. B. Maltby, of 
Trumbull County, Ohio, wishes information in regard 
to a steam apparatus used in the manufacture of cheese, 
which he has been told has been introduced by Mr. 
Gordon Farmer, of Mohawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y. 
If some person will give us a description of this appa¬ 
ratus, together with its expense, &c., they will confer 
a favor. Mr. M. also wishes information through the 
Cultivator, in regard to the mode of manufacturing the 
u Hamburgh cheese, of Erie county, N. Y.” We hope 
some of our correspondents in that section will forward 
us the information called for. 
Cultivator for Agricultural Societies.- —At 
the last annual meeting of the Caledonian Co. (Vt.) 
Ag. Society, it was resolved, il That a copy of the Al¬ 
bany Cultivator, for one year, be furnished to those 
members who pay one dollar into the treasury the pre¬ 
sent year.” 
Ashes on Potatoes. —Mr. W. R. Webb, of Clark 
County, Ohio, states that in planting his potatoes last 
year, he used on a portion of the lot “ about a shovel- 
full of leached ashes on each hill,” and that on this part 
the potatoes were not hurt by the rot. On another part 
of the lot, where no ashes were put, two-thirds of the 
potatoes, as stated, rotted. Mr. W. inquires whether 
the ashes saved the crop. We can only say that the 
effect of ashes on the growth of potatoes is generally 
favorable; but in regard to the prevention from rot, 
results are so contradictory, that we would not venture 
a conclusion. 
Smith’s Corn-Sheller.—Elijah Willard, Esq. 
of Union county, Illinois, writes—.“I purchased in St. 
Louis, Smith’s Corn Sheller; it is now daily in opera¬ 
tion, and shells, with three hands to feed it, one hun¬ 
dred bushels of shelled corn per hour; the work being- 
done in a handsome and complete manner. It is attach¬ 
ed to the Horse Power I bought of you last summer, 
and run by it.” 
Wheat in Indiana— M. Averill, Esq., of Lima, 
La Grange county, Indiana, informs us that the wheat 
crop in that section, for 1847, was very light. It suf° 
fered much by the winter, and afterwards from the at¬ 
tack of the fly. In relation to the quantity of wheat 
on hand, Mr. A. says—“I see it frequently mentioned 
in eastern papers, that the ‘ Farmers of the West / 
were, to a great extent, holding back their wheat crop 
for spring market; but so far as the four counties in 
the north and northeastern parts of this state, and the 
south and southwestern counties of Michigan, and a 
large part of Illinois and Wisconsin a,re embraced in 
these conjectures, it will certainly be found to be a great 
mistake , as I believe there has not been a season in the 
last four or five years, when there was any thing like 
so small a quantity of surplus wheat, retained in the 
country as at this time; nearly the entire surplus went 
forward in the fall, and is sold.” 
Best manner of Wintering Stock.— At a late 
discussion in relation to the above subject, by the 
u North Stockbridge (Mass.) Farmers’' Club,” it was 
almost the unanimous opinion of the members, that it 
was best to feed wholly under cover, as being most 
economical, both as to saving of food and manure. 
Several farmers spoke of the benefit of feeding cows 
“ rye mush” for a short time before they calve. It was 
also the general opinion that much loss was sustained by 
farmers, from their stock being allowed to get poor at 
the setting in of winter, and it was advised to guard 
against this by feeding well at first. It was thought 
that hay was generally cut too late. It was advised 
to feed stock a little at a time and often—five or six 
times in twenty-four hours. 
Good Crops in Vermont.— The agricultural society 
of Washington county, Vt., awarded premiums forth© 
following crops of Indian corn: 1st premium, 106 bush¬ 
els per abre; 2d do. 100; 3d 86|; 4th, 80| bushels. 
In the latter case, the whole crop was shelled and 
measured; in the former cases two bushels of ears were 
taken as the equivalent of a bushel of corn. The 
same society also awarded premiums for the following 
crops of potatoes: 1st premium, 310 bushels per acre—» 
variety, Long-Red, or Merinos; and 2d premium 285 
bushels, round Pink-Eyes. (The same person also 
produced 285 bushels Long-Reds per acre.) The 3d 
premium 205 bushels per acre, Pink-Eyes. All the 
crops of potatoes were free from rot. They were pro- 
duced, mostly, on “ loamy” soil. Some of the crops 
having been on sward, broken up the previous fall, and 
others on stubble ground—oats, on sward, having been 
the previous crop. 
Good Hogs.— H. K. Starkweather, of Northamp¬ 
ton, states in the Massachusetts Plowman, that he 
killed three hogs, 17 months old, whose dressed weight 
were 410, 468, 570 lbs. The lightest one had a litter 
of pigs in August. Another hog of the same litter as 
the above, was killed in December, and weighed 450 
lbs. They were a cross of the Mackay stock, derived 
from P. Lathrop, Esq., of South Hadley. Mr. S. at° 
tributes their superiority to the Mackay stock*—says he 
took 11 far less pains than usual in fattening them,” ajftd 
that his old stock could seldom be brought, with any 
feeding, to the weight of 400 lbs. 
Enormous Profits of Farming. —A correspondent 
of the Boston Cultivator, states the success of a man 
who left a lucrative business in the city of Philadelphia, 
for farming, to make a profit. After two years trial, 
he was asked if he did not find the profits small, com¬ 
pared with those of trade? He answered, 11 Quite the 
contrary; I have already realized far more than the 
most I had dared to anticipate, and am, at the end of 
two years, richer than I ever could have become by twen¬ 
ty-five years of successful trade. It is true I made 
more dollars and cents in trade than I do now, but 
